Controversial Campbell

Press, 10 March 1988, Page 13

Controversial Campbell

Charlotte [Godley described him as vexatious and underhand in doing business and said) that he had an overwhelming idea; of his own importance. ! Henry Sewell was much l less flattering. He [referred to him [as “the doited old idiot, a conipound of conceit, ignorance and self-importance, mischievous and malignant.” The subject! of those criticisms was Lieutenant-Colonel [James Campbell. I I . Campbell was born jin Ayrshire, in 1783, and had .quite a distinguished career in the British Army. He held a commission in the 45th and 54th! Regiments and served in the Peninsular! War (1808-1814). He) was promoted to the rank of Lieuten; ant-Colonel and served also | in North and South America'. [As a. result of contracting a fever ihe had to retire from the Army! He arrived at Auckland!in the London in February, 1851,’with a recommendation from the [ British Government. On the strength of this, Sir [George Grey appointed him as Commissioner of Crown Lands! in Canterbury.! It was his responsibility to [decide on j all land plaims outside the Canterbury ) Association | | land block and to issue pasturage licences. His outward letterbpok wh’ffch is in the [

Museum archives, con ains more than 200 letters covering the period October, 1851, jo November, 1853, and shows that he had bitter disputes with almost everyone! in Canterbury. | [ r He criticised Captain Thomas’s choice of Lyttelton as the main port and recommended Akaroa instead to Governor Grey. The Canterbury Association’s resident agent, John Robert GOdley, was condemned for selling)to association: settlers, I land in Akaroa, which Campbell claimed) was Crown land. Henry Sewell who had been sent! from [ Britain to wind up the tissociatipn’s affairs in 1853 was sdon.in conflict with

Campbell over land matters, and W. G. Brittan \vho was in charge of the association’s land office crossed swords with him [on many occasions.

j In March, 1853, Campbell was one of three candidates for the office of Superintendent of Canterbury. He campaigned strongly and supported the sale of land at a price cheaper than that which Had been set by the Canterbury Association. His catch cries] of * Cheap land,” "Cheap ! bread,” ‘.No Chinese labour,’’ ‘*No Association,” and a procession of children with banners' and, a tyand, gained him some support, but in the end J. E. Fitz Gerald’s

eloquence carried the day. Campbell was supported by all the French settlers! at Akaroa where he topped the!poll. He just headed off Fitz Gerald at Lyttelton, but the majority of Christchurch voters favoured FitzGerald.

Campbell was bitterly disappointed with the rekult, claimed he had been unfairly beaten, took the matter of voter eligibility to court and : refused to acknowledge Fitz Gerald as superintendent. ! In contrast to Godley, he believed that the future prosperity of Canterbury depended on agriculture rather than qn sheep and